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Otago Daily Times, Issue 19736, 12 March 1926, Page 8

PICTURES FOR DUNEDIIV. We publish this morning an appeal which Sir Lindo Ferguson, on behalf of the Council of the Dunedin Art Gallery Society, is addressing to the community for funds to admit of the purchase fr the local gallery of a number of pictures in the American collection in the Exhibition. The pictures that have already been acquired from the Exhibition for retention in Dunedin were, as is perhaps generally known, purchased out of funds which were available only for the purchase of British works, and which, therefore, could not be applied at all to purchases such as are now contemplated. In order, therefore, that American pictures can be secured from the Exhibition art gallery for transference to the local public collection an appeal to public-spirited citizens is necessary, and the measure of the response to that appeal will determine the extent of the purchases. The Council of the Art Gallery Society has specified ten pictures in the American collection which it is desirous of securing. It has acted wisely in indicating the selection which, if it is provided with the necessary funds, it is disposed to make from tho United States gallery in the Exhibition. There is some diversity of opinion —in fact, a considerable diversity of opinion—concerning the judgment that was shown in the purchase of tho British pictures at the Exhibition. Some of the pictures, it is said, that were bought should not have been bought, and others that were not bought should have been bought. There will be no room for disappointment by subscribers to the fund which the Art Gallery Society is asking the public to place at its disposal. They are told what the pictures are in tho purchase of which they are invited to take a part. It is a good selection, and tho list might be extended if funds were provided in volume more than .sufficient to procure this selection, although our own preference in that event would be for the purchase of additional British works rather than of additional American works. The desirability, however, of utilising the opportunity which is now offered of adding a satisfactory representation of the art of the United States to the Public Art Gallery in this city should be widely recognised, and for this reason the appeal of the Art Gallery Society should meet with a ready response.

In yesterday’s report of the Dunedin wool sale mention was inadvertently omitted of Mr Dugald Matheson’s merino wool, which scoured the top price of the sale, 21|d per lb in Messrs Donald Reid and Co.’s catalogue. This clip, under Mr Matheson’s brand of Mt. Piri, has been consistently amongst the highest prices for some years. When the towing hawsers parted while the Bluff Harbour Board’s tug Theresa Ward was endeavouring to assist the intercolonial steamer Manuka to a berthage at Bluff on Monday afternoon, the vessel was left in a precarious position in the harbour. The flood tide was carrying the vessel up into the wind, which was very •strong, and which turned the Manuka’s bow until the ship was almost broadside on to the current. This position was maintained until the master (Captain Molyneux) dropped anchor to steady the vessel. Moving with great caution, the Manuka’s engines went astern slowly until Captain Molyneux had sufficient room to swing with safety, when the tide and wind were considered. The manoeuvre was successfully completed, and the Manuka headed for the open straits, where she spent the remainder of the night. At 9 a.m. the vessel was moored without any further incident and unloading commenced. At yesterday’s conference of master bakers and pastrycooks, Mr H. P. Burton (Auckland) said that bakers should demand that the millers of the Dominion produce a better quality of flour. They should ask Dsitributors (Ltd.) to appoint chemists to te.t all flour, which, if not up to a certain standard, would be condemned. If such a move were taken, the bakers would be ensured of a high quality flour. Some of the bread sold in New Zealand was ot scandalous quality, and he wondered how it could be sold. He did not say that this was due to any one condition, but he considered that it was largely due to the quality of the flour. Ho waa prepared to place his proposal before Distributors (Ltd.), which had stated on a previous occasion that the millers would not agree to it. Mr W. R. Andrews (Wellington) said that the association should approach the Government and stress the necessity for the appointment of analytical chemists to see that the needs of the bakers eonformed with the law. They should know what was in their bread. At present the millers said: “There is the flour; go on with it,” but with the chemists they would say : “There is the flour and the test.” The association decided that a conference on the question bo arranged with Distributors (Ltd.). A very heavy wind waa experienced in Palmerston on Wednesday, but it died down during the night (writes our correspondent). Since the heavy x - ain of a week ago the weather has been fine, and harvesting ie well advanced. Most crops are being threshed out of the stook this season, and some very good yields are reported. At the monthly meeting of the Southland Power Boax-d yesterday (reports our correspondent) notice of motion was givexx by Mr L. Neideror —“That in view of the near completion of the reticulation work the board should seriously consider the question of appointing a business manager to carry out its policy.” A Wellington Press Association message reports that during the month of February, 1926, the total births registered for the urban areas of the Dominion amounted to 991, as against 1180 in Januax-y, a decrease of 189. The deaths in February were 430, a decrease of 18 compared with the previous month. Of the total deaths males contributed 288 and females 202. Sixty-two of the deaths were of children under five years of age, being 14.49 per cent, of the whole number. Forty of these wex’e under one year of age. With the erection of the electric line between Palmerston and Waikouaiti, it has become necessary to cut down a number ot trees (writes our Palmerston correspondent), and many well-known landmarks have thus disappeared. Everything points to the fulfilment of the report that the power will be ready by March 31. For some time past the residents of Owaka district have been considering the advisability of having the district reticulated from the Otago Power Board’s mains, and on Tuesday Messrs Jaspar Clark and J. Aldridge (chairman and manager respectively of the Otago Electric Power Board) ar ’ Mr J. F. Guest (Clutha representative for the board) visited Owaka and conferred with a deputation of the residents. The matter was discussed fully and ■’ , method of supply and the proposed cost were thoroughly explained by Mr Aldridge, with the reeult that at no distant date the township of Owaka and the adjacent district will probably be in possession of all the undoubted advantages of an abundant supply of electric power. ■Stipendiax-v magistrates are called upon very frequently to deal with motorists for driving cars while under thd influence of liquor. In view of the heavy penalties recently inflicted, one wonders what would have happened to the driver of a Ford lorry on the Main South road yesterday afternoon. Just before entering Green Island he passed a large six-cylinder car at a speed which could not have been less than 50 milos an hour—a dangerous speed for any lorry. At the small bridge at the foot of the hill he was soon to stop, and on the arrival of the bigger car it was found that the bonnet of the lorry bad dropped off and was being salvaged by a passengex - , who bore evidence of having been drinking not wisely but too well. The driver, 100, appeared to have imbibed slightly more than was good for him, and a demijohn in the cab pointed to the fact that the supply had not been limited. The pitiful aspect of the occurrence was that the body of the lorry was occupied by throe very sen" d-looking y mgsters, who appeared to have had more than enough of their thrilling ride. Had the fall in" bonnet dropped under a wheel of the vehicle the speed at which it was travelling must have spelt disaster. A passing motorist gave the driver of the lorry his opinion of him in no measured terms, and wisely insisted that the children should he taken to their destination in a less hazardous fashion. It is generally anticipated that the Easter holidays will prove the busiest period that Dunedin will have experienced since the Exhibition opened, and the number of visitors is expected to break all previous records. Inquiries made at most of the city hotels show that accommodation is at a premium, and private accommodation is also being booked by hundreds who are eager to. be in Dunedin for the closing days of the Exhibition. .. deputation from the Returned Soldiers' Association, consisting of Messrs A. C. Laing, J. M. White, and W. F. Forrester, waited on the Otago Land Board at its mooting yesterday, and asked for better reading facilities for the new settlors at Wilden. They suggested a route which would save three miles cartage each way. The Commissioner of Crown Lands (Mr R S. Galbraith) promised that the whole matter would be carefully gone into by the board Ho pointed out that (he members of the board had every sympathy with the request, and would do everything possible to meet the wishes of the deputation. There was a clean sheet at the City Police Court yesterday. Travellers! Wherever you go ask for Kodak Film—the dependable film in the yellow box. Keeps best under trying climatic conditions.—Advt. Special attention is drawn to Dalgety arfd Company's (Christchurch) advertisement uprearing In to-day's issue concerning the sale by auction of fx-eehold premises In Christchurch, known as “ Petersen’s Buddings.”—Advt. Eyes are precious. At first sign of weakness go to the qualified and experienced (20 years) optometrist, IV. V. Sturmer. D. 5.0.1., G.A.0.C., Octagon, Dunedin. Most up-to-date equipment, including test electrically-lit testing charts installed. —Advt. A, E. J. Blakeley and W. E. Bagley, dentists, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. —Advt, For diamond Engagement rings, (torn £lO to £2OO ,nnd lifetime watches —Peter Dick, jewellers and optometrists, 490 Moray place. Dunedin, Send for catalogue.— Advt